SA to consider industrial manslaughter law

The Greens will seek to create an industrial manslaughter offence in South Australia as a punitive approach to cut workplace deaths.

On the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Greens MP Tammy Franks says SA needs specific laws to protect workers and prevent employers taking shortcuts that endanger lives.

She plans to introduce a bill when state parliament resumes next week.

"This bill seeks to capture a very small minority of employers who cruelly put their workers through unnecessary risk and would only apply in the event that an employee tragically dies," Ms Franks said on Tuesday.

"This proposed law is unashamedly a stick rather than a carrot - but a punitive approach is appropriate when a person has been killed due to negligence."

Last year 13 workers died in South Australia from work-related incidents.

Deputy Premier John Rau says that's too many and workplace safety is a priority for the government and everyone's responsibility.